What is LinkedIn: Your Ultimate Guide to Navigating Opportunities
Are you looking for a career boost and want to take your networking game to the next level—or do you need to recruit top talent to join your team and build your professional brand? LinkedIn is your go-to professional network platform.
This article will provide you with everything you need to know about LinkedIn, and it’s premium version.
What is LinkedIn?
Launched in May 2003, LinkedIn has grown to over 850 million members globally, but the question arises—what is LinkedIn? Well, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform designed to connect individuals, businesses, and organizations on a professional level. It allows users to:
- Build and maintain a professional profile showcasing experience, skills, and education.
- Network with professionals, mentors, and industry leaders within specific fields.
- Discover job opportunities, research companies, and apply for positions.
- Share content such as articles, photos, and videos within a professional setting.
- Participate in engaging discussions, join niche-specific groups, and organize professional events.
LinkedIn focuses on professionals, job seekers, recruiters, and students, making it the premier tool for growing careers and connecting people with opportunities. While a free version is available, customers can enhance their experience by purchasing premium features through LinkedIn Premium.
What is LinkedIn Premium?
LinkedIn Premium is a subscription-based upgrade to the free LinkedIn platform. Premium provides exclusive features for professional development, recruitment, business expansion, and sales activities.
It offers tools to assist users to gain new insights, interact with more people, and boost productivity. These include:
- Increased visibility for profile viewers.
- Direct messaging functionality (via InMails) outside of the user’s network.
- Access to LinkedIn Learning courses.
- Additional search filters to improve networking.
LinkedIn Premium offers several options tailored to certain user needs, including career, business, sales navigator, and recruiter plans. Each plan includes distinct tools and perks.
What Does LinkedIn Premium Offer?
LinkedIn Premium includes a variety of features that improve the user experience and help you reach your professional goals. This list includes:
- Who has viewed your profile: See the full list of people who viewed your profile in the last 90 to 365 days.
- InMail Credits: Send messages to anyone on LinkedIn, even if they’re not in your network.
- The premium career plan provides 5 credits each month.
- Sales Navigator provides 50+ credits per month.
- Advanced Search Filters: Use factors to narrow down your search, such as industry, job title, and region.
- Featured Applicant: This feature distinguishes you as a top candidate when applying for employment, improving your visibility to recruiters.
- Interview Preparation: Get advice and suggestions from professionals on how to approach interview questions.
- LinkedIn Learning: offers over 21,000 expert-led courses on professional and technical skills.
- Salary Insights: Access transparent wage statistics to negotiate better job offers.
- Unlimited Profile Searches: Premium accounts allow for unlimited profile searches, unlike the basic account.
How much is LinkedIn Premium?
The cost of LinkedIn Premium varies depending on the plan you choose:
- Premium Career: “$29.99/month” or “$239/year”
- Premium Business: “$59.99/month” or “$575.88/year”
- Sales Navigator: “$99.99/month” or “$959.88/year”
- Sales Navigator Advanced: “$149.99/month” or “$1,300/year”
- Sales Navigator Advanced Plus: “Custom pricing”
- Recruiter Lite: “$170/month” or “$1,680/year”
- LinkedIn Recruiter (Corporate): “$900/month/seat” or “$10,800/year/seat”
- LinkedIn Learning: “$39.99/month” or “$239.88/year”
There may be discounts for annual subscriptions, which lower the monthly equivalent cost.
For teams or enterprises, customized pricing is available. Each plan includes basic premium features, with some offering additional tools for specific needs like sales or recruitment.
How Much is LinkedIn Premium for Students?
Students often receive discounts for the Premium Career plan, reducing the cost by up to 50%. This plan includes:
- Access to LinkedIn Learning.
- Job search tools and features like “Top Applicant.”
Steps to Claim Student Discounts
- Sign up with your verified educational email address.
- Apply through LinkedIn’s student offer page (additional verification may be required).
- Access Premium Career at a discounted rate, typically around $20/month.
How to Get Free LinkedIn Premium?
- LinkedIn offers a one-month free LinkedIn Premium trial for new Premium subscribers.
- Universities or professional partnerships may provide free access to LinkedIn Learning, which sometimes includes premium perks. Check with your university or organization for any premium partnerships or sponsored accounts.
Remember that free trials require a valid payment method and will automatically renew into a paid subscription if not cancelled before the trial time expires.
How to Tell if Someone Has LinkedIn Premium?
- You can identify LinkedIn premium users by the “gold LinkedIn icon” next to their profile.
- Additionally, premium users may have access to features like “Open Profile,” which allows messages from users who aren’t directly connected.
- Some features, like LinkedIn ads targeting specific viewers, are enabled primarily for LinkedIn premium members.
Does LinkedIn Premium Help Get a Job?
Yes, LinkedIn Premium enhances your chances of landing a job by:
- Increasing your profile visibility.
- Allowing applicants to directly message recruiters via InMail.
- Providing applicant insights and salary transparency.
- Offering access to LinkedIn Learning for skill improvement.
According to a study conducted by LinkedIn, users with LinkedIn Premium accounts, on average, are 39% more likely to hear back from job applications.
How to Message Someone on LinkedIn Without Premium?
If you don’t have LinkedIn Premium, here are some tips you can follow to be able to send messages to recruiters and other people on LinkedIn
- Send a connection request with a thoughtful, personalized note.
- Engage with their posts and content to start a conversation.
- Ask for a mutual connection to introduce you.
How to Cancel Premium on LinkedIn?
Follow the steps below to cancel your LinkedIn Premium Subscription
- Log in to your LinkedIn account.
- Access your account settings from the drop-down under your profile picture.
- Select Premium Subscription Management.
- Click Cancel Membership and confirm.
You’ll retain premium benefits until the billing cycle ends, but make sure to cancel your LinkedIn Premium Subscription before your next billing date to avoid charges.
- Why is LinkedIn Premium So Expensive?
LinkedIn Premium is a valuable tool for job seekers, offering enhanced visibility, salary insights, and direct communication with recruiters. It also provides access to LinkedIn Learning courses, making it an excellent choice for career advancement.
- Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It?
Yes, especially for individuals pursuing career growth or business expansion. LinkedIn Premium offers industry-specific tools and unlimited search capabilities, making it a professional investment with exclusive resources.
- Can Premium LinkedIn See Anonymous Viewers?
No. Even with LinkedIn Premium, anonymous viewers remain private. Premium only allows visibility of the identities of non-private viewers.
- Is there a refund policy for LinkedIn Premium?
No, LinkedIn does not offer refunds for unused time after cancellation.
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